NFL Week 3 Power Rankings: Are Bucs For Real? Chiefs Continue To Surge

It’s tough to imagine anyone projected the 2018 NFL season starting like this.
Los Angeles Rams (2-0; Last week’s rank: 1): The Rams have looked dominant, beating their opponents by a combined 54 points.
L.A. will be hard-pressed to keep it going, though, as its next two games are against the Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings.
KC’s stable of playmakers will make things incredibly tough on defenses week in and week out.
After an underwhelming performance in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccanneers, the Eagles will welcome back Carson Wentz this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
Matt Ryan and Co. proved just how dangerous their offense can be against the Carolina Panthers.
New Orleans Saints (1-1; 7): The Saints still have yet to put things together, as seen in Week 2 when they struggled to beat the Cleveland Browns.
Tennessee Titans (1-1; 19): Ironically enough, the Titans earned their first win of the season without their franchise quarterback under center.
San Francisco 49ers (1-1; 25): Jimmy Garoppolo got back to his winning ways this past Sunday against the Detroit Lions, but the Niners face a tall task Sunday against the red-hot Chiefs in Kansas City.
The Browns have gone toe-to-toe with the Steelers and Saints and had multiple opportunities to win each of their first two games.

It’s tough to imagine anyone projected the 2018 NFL season starting like this.

We’ve already seen a tie in two consecutive weeks of action, while a number of teams are either greatly exceeding expectations or failing to meet them.

It’s still too early to gauge which teams will be Super Bowl contenders this season, but for now, here are our NFL power rankings as we head into Week 3. (To check out our Week 2 power rankings, click here.)

1. Los Angeles Rams (2-0; Last week’s rank: 1): The Rams have looked dominant, beating their opponents by a combined 54 points. L.A. will be hard-pressed to keep it going, though, as its next two games are against the Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-0; 5): The Jags made a statement in their Week 2 bullying of the Patriots. We’re not conceding the AFC to Jacksonville this early, but it will be tough to stop this team when Blake Bortles plays the way he did against New England.

3. Minnesota Vikings (1-0-1; 3): The Vikings were one of a handful of teams troubled by kicking woes this past Sunday. An easy way to rebound from an undesirable outcome? Hosting the Buffalo Bills, which Minnesota will do in Week 3.

5. Green Bay Packers (1-0-1; 6): It sure doesn’t look like Aaron Rodgers will be seriously hobbled by the knee he injured in Week 1. The Packers looked evenly matched against the Vikings, which bodes well for an exciting NFC North race.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1; 2): It looks like Nick Foles finally will be returning to the pine. After an underwhelming performance in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccanneers, the Eagles will welcome back Carson Wentz this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.

7. New England Patriots (1-1; 4): The Patriots struggled on both sides of the ball against the Jaguars. A big boost could be on the way, though, as New England traded for Josh Gordon on Monday. Not to mention, the Pats only will be without Julian Edelman for two more games.

8. Los Angeles Chargers (1-1; 10): The Chargers’ offense looked pretty darn good against the Bills, but a much larger challenge awaits in Week 3 when they visit the Rams.

9. Atlanta Falcons: (1-1; 12): Week 1 and Week 2 were night and day for the Falcons. Matt Ryan and Co. proved just how dangerous their offense can be against the Carolina Panthers. And don’t forget: Atlanta didn’t have Devonta Freeman on Sunday.

10. New Orleans Saints (1-1; 7): The Saints still have yet to put things together, as seen in Week 2 when they struggled to beat the Cleveland Browns. Still, New Orleans is far too talented to garner that much doubt.

11. Tampa Bay Buccanneers (2-0; 23): How about them Bucs? If the season ended today (which, admittedly, is one of sports’ worst phrases) Ryan Fitzpatrick would be a top MVP candidate. A quarterback controversy could be looming when Jameis Winston…